Shoe-turning machine



July 1,1930;

-E. ERI CKSON SHOE TURNING MACHINE Original Filed'Aug. 2( 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 1, 1930. E. ERICKSON I SHOE TURNING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 20. 1.924

V XVI/E 7 05 July}, 1930. E. ERICKSON I SHOE TURNING MACHINE 3 SheetsSheet Original Filed Aug. 20, 1924 Patented July I, 1930 EDWARD ERIOKSON', 0F BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'lO UNITED SHOE MA- CHINE-RY CORPORATION, 035 PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SHOE-TURNING MACHINE Application filed August 20, 1924, Serial No. 733,112. Renewed August 7, 1929.

This invention relates to shoe turning machines and is illustrated as embodied in a shoe turning machine in which the forepart of the shoe is turned by power-actuated instrumentalities.

A machine of this type is disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,310,008, granted July 15, 1919, on my application. In the machine disclosed in the Letters Patent referred to, cooperating heel turning members are initially actuated to turn the heel part of a shoe and are then locked in position to clamp the heel seat of the shoe in a substantially vertical plane to hold the shoe firmly during the turning of the forepart. The means for turning the forepart comprises a support over which the sole is bent substantially at right angles to the heel seat while the latter is clamped between the heel turning members; a forepart support or spreader mounted in front of the heel turning members and adapted to be moved rearwardly to permit insertion within the forepart of the upper; and a horizontally movable turning iron which is advanced through the same length of stroke at each complete cycle of operations of the machine and which is constructed and arranged to engage the toe portion of the sole and to accomplish the turning operation by pressure exerted upon the toe.

In the machine illustrated in said United States Letters Patent the forepart spreader is movable to position the forepart of the shoe relatively to the turning iron so that the latter will move idly at the beginning of its stroke and will be permitted to engage the shoe only at such a point in its forward movement that the remainder of its stroke will be just sufficient in length completely to turn the shoe without danger of damaging the shoe by forcing the turning iron outwardly through the toe. In other Words, the forepart spreader is capable of positioning the shoe relatively to the turning iron so that more or less of the stroke of the turning iron will be rendered elfective to turn the forepart of the shoe according to the length of the particular shoe being operated upon, thereby permitting the complete turning of any shoe regardless of its size while insuring that the forward movement of the turning iron will cease the instant the turning operation is completed in order to avoid damage to the shoe. It will be appreciated therefore that it is very important to have the toe of the shoe initially positioned in the proper relation to the turning iron in order that the length of the effective stroke of the turning iron shall be accurately gaged in accordance with the length of the particu lar shoe being operated upon.

One object of the present invention is to facilitate the turning of the forepart of a shoe in a machine of the general type above referred to by providing for more accurate positioning of the toe of the shoe relatively to the turning iron prior to the beginning of the forepart turning operation and for better control of the forepart of the shoe during the progress of the turning operation.

l/Vith this object in view, one feature of the invention consists in the provision, in a shoe turning machine having a forepart turning member movable in a rectilinear path, and a forepart spreader member, of an improved mounting for the forepart spreader member constructed and arranged to guide the latter for rectilinear movement in the path of the'turning member. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the forepart spreader is guided for rectilinear sliding movement in a carrier or support which is pivoted to swing in a vertical plane intersecting the path of the turning iron. Normally the forepart spreader support is maintained in elevated position above the shoe so that the spreader will not interfere with the bending of the sole of the shoe over the sole support. A suitable handle is associated with the forepart spreader whereby the spreader support may conveniently be swung downwardly to bring the spreader into horizontal alinement with the turning member at a point in front of the shoe. The spreader is then slid rearwardly in the path of the turning member to introduce the spreader into the forepart of the shoe. The turning member thereafter advanc s nd r power and after it has engaged the toe portion of the shoe the turning operation commences, the upper spreader receding as the turning member advances.

By reason of the above described mounting of the forepart spreader it is constrained to move only in the path of the turning membeer and consequently the toe of the shoe cannot be positioned otherwise than directly in the path of the turning member. If, therefore, the forepart spreader is advanced as far as permitted by the shoe, the toe of the shoe will be accurately positioned in the proper relation to the turning member to insure that after the turning member has engaged the shoe the remainder of its forward stroke will be of sufficient length to insure that the forepart will be completely turned and that the turning pressure will be applied in the proper direction to turn the forepart without distorting or unduly stretching it. Furthermore, the spreader being constrained to move only in the line of movement of the turning member as the turning operation progresses, the forepart will be supported so that it cannot be forced to one side or the other during the advance of the turning member and consequently so that the turning operation will not be interfered with or prematurely terminated.

The invention also provides various adjustments facilitating the initial positioning of the spreader relatively to its supporting means so that it will be accurately located in the path of the turning member and will be capable of moving only in said path both when it is bein manually inserted within the forepart oi the shoe, and thereafter during the advance of the turning member.

The machine disclosed in the Letters Patent above referred to is provided with a control lever for starting the operation of the turning instrumentalities and in order that the operator may instantly arrest the turning operation to avoid damage to the shoe in case the shoe is not being properly acted upon, the arrangement in that machine is such that the turning operation progresses so long as the control lever is held in operative position but is stopped immediately upon the release of the control lever.

In order to relieve the operator of the necessity of keeping hold of a control lever throughout the turning operation, another feature of the present invention is concerned with the provision of means effective substantially at the beginning of the advance of the turning member to maintain operative connections with the driving shaft. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the driving mechanism comprises a continuously rotating worm adapted to be moved into and out of mesh with a driven worm gear and provision is made whereby when the starting lever is actuated the worm is moved into mesh with the worm gear by the straightening of the toggle and immediately thereafter a cam moves a cam lever into position to hold the toggle straightened to lock the worm and Worm gear in mesh, thus insuring that the machine will continue to operate although the starting lever is released. This arrangement enables the operator to release the starting lever immediately after the machine has been started, thus leaving both of the operators hands free to be used in manipulating the shoe in case it becomes desirable to assist the progress of the turning operation. As shown the cam is further so designed that during the return of the turning instrumentalities to initial position the cam lever will be released, permitting the spring to break the toggle and disengage the worm and worm gear. This construction relieves the operator of all control of the machine after the starting lever has once been operated and it insures that operative connections with the driving shaft will be maintained until the turning instrumentalities have returned to staring position and then the driving shaft will be disengaged from the turning instrumentalities.

The invention further provides operating mechanism for the forepart turning member constructed and arranged to become incfleo tive to advance the turning member in case the turning member encounters undue resistance. This result is accomplished in the illustrated machine by the use of a friction clutch between the worm gear and the crank shaft which operates the turning instrumentalities. As shown, the amount of friction between the clutch members is capable of being adjusted so that the usual resistance offered by the shoe to the advance of the turning member will be overcome but in case the shoe offers undue resistance to the advance of the turning member the driven clutch member will slip, thus disconnecting the turning member from the source of power and automatically arresting the turning operation.

The invention further consists in various features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts herein shown and. claimed, the advantages of which will be apparent .to those skilled in the art from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of a ma chine embodying the several features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of certain parts of the mechanism for operating the turning instrumentalities;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of the machine showing parts in a different position from that in which they appear in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail view in side elevation showing the instrumentalities which cooperate in the turning of the forepart and: illustrating their operation upon a shoe;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing particularly a crank shaft and the friction clutch connecting this shaft with the driving gear ing; and

Fig. 7 is a view, partially in vertical section and partially in elevation, showing particularly the starting and stopping mechanlsm.

The operating instrumentalities and the driving mechanism of the illustrated machine are mounted upon a head 10 supported by a standard 12 and are actuated from a crank shaft 14 which is journaled in the head and is caused to make one complete revolution at each cycle of operations of the machine. 7

The cooperating heel turning devices comprise a plurality of stationary heel turning 5 members 16, carried by a turret 18, and a corresponding number of heel cups 20, carried by a. turret 22. The turret 22 is mounted upon an arm 24 which is pivoted at 26 to the head 10 and is connected by a rod 28 with a treadle 30 whereby the arm 24 may be swung upwardly to move a selectively positioned heel cup into cooperative relation with a selectively located stationary heel turning member 16 to turn the heel part of a shoe. At the completion of the turning of the heel part the arm 24 is locked in position to maintain the active heel turning members in position to clamp the heel seat of the shoe, by means including a slide rod 32 and a clamping arm 34, the latter being actuated by means including a cam roll 36 carried by the crank shaft 14. The construction and mode of operation of the heel turning devices and the mechanism for locking them in heel clamping position are substantially the same as that disclosed in the patent above referred to and accordingly no further description thereof will be necessary. I

The forepart turning members comprise an upper or forepart spreader 40, a sole sup port 42 and a turning iron 44. After the heel seat of the shoe has been clamped between the heel turning members, the sole of the shoe is bent backwardly over the horizontal sole support 42, which at that time is stationarily positioned with its forward extremity adjacent to the plane of the sole. The upper spreader 40' is then manually inserted within the forepart of the shoe to hold the forepart in position during the turning operation. The turning iron is thereafter advanced under power and as ,soon as it engages the toe of the shoe, mechanism is automatically rendered opera tive to advance the sole support 42 in the same direction as the turning iron but at a slower rate of speed. The upper spreader 40 being located in the path of the turning iron recedes as the turning iron advances and the movement of the parts continues until the forepart is completely turned whereupon the advancing movement of the turning iron and sole support is automatically arrested and these parts are returned automatically to their initial positions.

The illustrated upper or forepart spreader 40 is shaped to enter and distend the forepart of the shoe and to bend the sole transversely about the sole support 42. The spreader 40 is inserted within the forepart prior to the beginning of the forepart turning operation and it is arranged to recede freely as the turning iron advances. Pro vision is also made for rigidly supporting the spreader so as to prevent it from being displaced from the line of movement of the turning iron. In addition the upper spreader is so mounted that when inactive it will be supported in an out-of-way position where it will not interfere with the manual bending of the sole about the sole support. It is so located, however, when in inactive position that it may be conveniently grasped by the operator and quickly moved into operative position.

To accomplish the above results, the forpart spreader is rigidly secured by means of a bolt 48 to a handle or carrier 50 of the pistol grip type, and the carrier is mounted at the forward extremity of a tubular slide bar 52 arranged to telescope within a sleevelike bearing or support 54, the rear extremity of which is pivoted at 56 within a housing 57 which is bolted to the top of the head 10. This construction enables the bearing 54 to swing in a vertical plane between the elevated inclined position shown in Fig. 4 and the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1. To enable the slide bar 52 to telescope readily within the bearing 54, the bar is arranged to ride between upper and lower rollers 58 which are mounted within the forward end of the bearing 54 and the rear portion of the slide bar 52 projects beyond the bearing 54 and is guided by means of a rod 60, the upper end of which is pivoted at 62 to the rear extremity of the bar 52 while the lower portion of the guide rod v6O is slidably received within a bearing 64 which is pivotally mounted at 66 upon a bracket 68 on the standard 12. The rearwardly projecting portion of the slide bar 52 is located within the housing 57 when the bearing or support 54 is in horizontal position, the housing being open at its lower side to permit the downward swinging of the rear portion of the slide bar. As shown, the upper portion of the guide rod 60 is enclosed within a shield 61 removably secured to the housing 57 and the bracket 68, the shield being shaped so as not to interfere with the swinging of the slide bar 52 and the resulting change of position of the guide rod 60. Downward swinging movement of the bearing is limited by means of a stop screw carried by the bearing and arranged to engage a finished surface upon the head 10. The stop screw 70 may be adjusted to position the slide bar 52 horizontally in a position parallel to the path of movement of the turning iron.

To insure that the upper spreader 40 shall be positioned in the desired relation to the turning iron and sole support irrespective of slight inaccuracies in the manufacture and assembly of the parts supporting the spreader provision is made for effecting a preliminary adjustment of the spreader both vertically and sidewise relatively to the turning iron. To this end, the carrier or handle 50 is mounted upon a stud 72 2) projecting from the side of a sleeve 74 which is fixed to the slide bar 52 and the carrier 50 is rigidly clamped in place between an annular shoulder 7 6 on the stud 72 and the head of a screw 78 which is threaded axially into the stud 7 2 and which may be loosened to permit longitudinal tilting adjustment of the spreader relatively to the slide bar 52. Such adjustment of the spreader will raise or lower the toe end thereof for the purpose of effecting the de sired vertical adjustment thereof to locate it in the path of the turning iron. To enable the spreader to be adjusted so as to po sition its toe end transversely in alinement with the turning iron the sleeve 74 is capable of being turned upon the slide bar 52. To this end, the foremost end of the slide bar 52 is split as indicated at 76 and a taper plug 79 is screwed into the split end of the slide bar expanding the portion of the bar within the sleeve 78 so as rigidly to clamp the sleeve in radially adjusted position on the slide bar. By loosening the taper plug 79, the spreader 40 may be swung sidewise to effect the desired transverse adjustment thereof.

To insure against the possibility of the spreader being displaced upwardly during the turning operation means is provided for automatically locking the spreader in its depressed position. This means comprises a rod 80 the upper end of which is pivoted at 82 to the bearing 54: while the lower end of the rod 80 is pivoted at 84 to one arm of a rocker member 86 which is fulcrumed upon a rod 88 which is located beneath the crank shaft 14. The other arm of the rocker member 86 carries a roller 90 which is adapted to ride over the outer periphery of a segmental flange 92 projecting from the side of a disc 94 which is fixed 011 the crank shaft 14. When the spreader 40 is in elevated or in inoperative position the cam shaft 14 is idle and the segmental flange 92 and the rocker member 86 are relatively positioned as shown in Fig. 4, the roller 90 being located adjacent to the inner periphery of the flange 92. WVhen the bearing 54 is lowered as the spreader is swung downwardly into operative position the rocker member 86 will be swung by the rod 80 in a countenclockwise direction until the roller 90 in retracted to a point outside the path of the segmental flange 92. As soon as the crank shaft 14 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 96 in Fig. 1 to start the advance of the turning iron and the power, the segmental flange 92 is moved behind the roller 90, thus locking the rocker member 86 against clockwise rotation and thus locking the spreader in depressed position. The flange 92 is of sufi'icient length to hold the spreader locked in depressed position throughout the advancing movement of the turning iron. With the spreader 40 mounted and arranged to be locked in depressed position as above described, it will be seen that after the spreader is operatively positioned and the turning operation has advanced the spreader will be positively prevented from being displaced either upwardly or toward either side of the path of the turning iron. The telescoping mounting of the slide bar 52 insures that the spreader will recede in the line of movement of the turning iron as the latter progresses.

By reason of the above described mounting of the slide bar 52 and the support or hearing 54, the spreader will function positively to maintain the toe of the shoe in engagement with the turning iron throughout the progress of the turning operation thus insuring against unduly straining or distorting the shoe. The described provision for securing preliminary adjustment of the spreader both up and down and transversely relatively to the spreader support and direction of movement of the turning iron enables the spreader to be accurately positioned upon its support and inasmuch as the spreader is guided for movement only in line with the turning iron when the spreader is in its lowered position, it will be practical for the operator initially to position the foreparts of all the shoes of a particular size uniformly with respect to the turning iron to insure that the efiective turning stroke of the iron will com letely turn the forepart without danger of istorting or unduly stretching the shoe.

After the advance of the turning iron has been completed the segmental flan e 92 passes out of engagement with the rol er 90, thus unlocking the bearing 54 so that the spreader is free to be elevated. The spreader at this time has been moved to the limit of its forward or outward stroke and is clear of the shoe, the latter having been completely turned. The operator may then manually return the spreader to inoperative position by grasping the handle 50 and lifting it and at the same time pushing it rearwardly to slide the bar 52 inwardly in the bearing 54. The upward swinging movement of the spreader supporting members is assisted by means of a .spring 98 which is coiled around the rod 88, at one side of the rocker member 86, and which is arranged to urge the rockermember in a clock wise direction. The strength of the spring 98 is such that when the spreader is actively positioned, the weight of the spreader supporting members will overbalance the force of the spring, but as the spreader 40 is moved toward inoperative position the center of gravity of the spreader supporting members moves rearwardly and the spring 98 becomes increasingly efiective to assist the upward movement of these parts. To cushion the upward movement of the spreader a compression spring 100 surrounds the rod 80 and is interposed between a collar 102 fixed on the rod and a buffer collar 104 which is slidable on the rod and is arranged to engage a fixed abutment 106 on the head 10. When the spreader and its supporting parts are in elevated position they are so arranged that they will not interfere with the manipulation of the shoe by the operator. When thus positioned, however, the handle 50 is conveniently accessible to the operator so that the spreader may be readily moved into operative position when desired. The pistol grip type of handle 50 enables the operator accurately to control the movement of the spreader 40 and easily to insert the spreader in the forepart of the shoe.

Immediately after the spreader has been inserted in the forepart of the shoe, poweractuated mechanism is set in operation to accomplish the turning of the forepart. The first operation of the power-actuated mechanism is to advance the turning iron into engagement with the toe portion of the shoe, after which the sole support 42 is automatically connected with the actuating mechanism and both the sole support and the turning iron are thereafter advanced, the sole support moving at one-half the speed of the turning iron.

As shown the sole support and the turning iron are both mounted upon a slide 110 but they are both capable of moving relatively to the slide in the direction of movement of the slide. The slide 110 is reciprocated horizontally in the head 10 by means of a slotted rocker arm 112, the lower end of which is pivoted upon the rod 88, while the upper end cfthe rocker member 112 is connected by a link 114 with the slide 110. The rocker arm 112 is actuated by means of a crank pin 116 carried by a crank arm 118 on the crank the shoe to the advance of the turning iron. causes the sole support 42 to be operatively connected with the slide and advanced in unison therewith. Upon the advance of the sole support 42, mechanism is set into operation for thereafter advancing the turning iron at twice the speed of the sole support. The slide 110 has pivoted thereto a cross bar 120 (Fig. arranged to engage a shoulder 122 on the turning iron and to advance the turning iron during the inner or idle portion of its stroke, during which time the sole support 42 remains stationary. The resistance encountered by the turning iron when it engages the shoe causes the cross bar 120 to be rocked and this rocking of the cross bar causes the sole support to be locked to the slide 110. The sole support and the turning iron are connected by mechanism, indicated generally at 124 in Fig. 3, which functions after the sole support has been operatively connected to the slide 110 to advance the turning iron at twice the speed of the slide and the sole support.

The construction and mode of operation of the above described mechanism for reciprocating the slide 110 and of the mecha nism whereby the turning iron and sole support are operatively connected with the slide 110 are substantially the same as that of corresponding mechanism described in' Patent No. 1,310,008 above referred to, to which reference may be had for a more detailed description if desired.

The means for driving the crank shaft 14 is also similar to the means employed for the same purpose in the machine of. said patent. Briefly described this means comprises .a drive shaft 136 (Fig. 7) which is operated continuously by a belt passing over :the pulley 138 aflixed to the shaft. The shaft 136 carries a worm 140 which is adapted to mesh with a worm gear 142 secured to the crank shaft14. The shaft 136 is journaled in a bearing 144 which is pivoted at .146 to a portion of the head 10 and the crank shaft is thrown into and out of operation by swinging the bearing 144 about the pivot 146 bodily toimove the worm 140 into mesh with the worm. gear 142.

In common with the machine of.=the patgle mechanism consists of an arm 150, fulcrumed at 152, and a link 154 connecting the arm with the outer end of the bearing 144. Another arm extends from the fulcrum 152 and a spring 156 is arranged to act upon this arm so as to break the toggle and disengage the worm from the worm gear. This arm is provided with a plunger 158 having a shoulder 160 formed thereon which is engaged by the upper end of a latch rod 162. The latch rod is pivotally connected at 164 (Fig. 1) with the starting lever 148 and is normally retained in the position shown in Fig. 7 by a spring 165 which connects the latch rod with a lug 166 formed on the arm 150. It will be seen that when the starting lever is pulled forwardly the part to which the latch rod 162 is secured will be depressed, pulling the latch rod downwardly and straightening the toggle.

In the machine of the patent referred to the arrangement is such that so long as the operator holds the starting lever in its forward position the machine continues to operate, but if the starting lever is released at any time during the advancing movement of the turning instrumentalities, the latch rod is raised and the spring corresponding to the spring 156 of the illustrated machine immediately breaks the toggle and through the disengagement of the worm and worm gear causes the machine to stop.

In the machine herein illustrated, however, provision is made for automatically disengaging the latch rod 162 from the toggle arm immediately after the machine begins to operate under power, and for automatically maintaining driving connection with the pulley shaft 136 until the turning operation has been completed and the turning iron has returned to its initial position. To this end, as herein shown, a cam 170 is secured to the crank shaft 1d and, in accordance with one feature of the present invention, this cam is so designed that at the start of the power cycle it actuates a cam lever 172 fulcrumed at 174. The lower end of the cam lever 172 is located adjacent to the toggle arm 150 in position to engage with a pin 176 slidingly supported in the arm, when the lower end of the cam lever is swung to the right as viewed in Fig. 7. When the latch rod 162 is depressed to straighten the toggle, the upper end of the latch rod engages the plunger 176 sliding it to the left in the toggle arm 150. At the start .of the advancing movement of the forepart turning instrumentalities the portion 178 of the cam 170 engages with the cam lever 172 causing the lower end of the lever to rock toward the right into engagement with the pin 176. This movement of the lever slides the pin through the arm 150 causing the pin to disengage the latch rod 162 from the shoulder 160 and causing the lever to hold the toggle straightened. The cam 170 is so designed that the lever 172 will hold the toggle straightened until the turning operation has been completed and the turning iron returned to its initial position. The cam 170 will then permit the spring 156 to break the toggle, disengaging the worm 140 from the worm gear 142.

It will appear from the foregoing paragraph that the operator has no control of the driving mechanism after the turning instrumentalities begin to operate under power. In order, therefore, to avoid possible injury to the shoe, means is provided, as herein shown, for arresting the turning operation in case undue resistance is offered by the shoe to the advance of the turning iron. This means comprises a friction clutch which, as shown in Fig. 6, comprises driving clutch discs 180 secured to the outer side of the worm gear 142 and a driven clutch disc 182 secured to the crank shaft 14. The eluted discs are held in frictional driving contact by means of a spring 184 which encircles the shaft 14 and is interposed between a collar 186 which engages the outer clutch disc 180 and is slidable on said shaft, and a hand wheel 188 which is threaded on the outer end of the shaft. The amount of friction, and consequently the degree of resistance which must be overcome before the clutch members will slip, may be regulated by turning the hand wheel. A look nut 190 is provided for securing the hand wheel in adjusted position. \Vith the above described construction a sufficient amount of friction may be maintained between the clutch members to insure that the turning iron will overcome the usual amount of resistance offered by a shoe to its advance but, in case unusual resistance is offered by the shoe, the advance of the turning iron will be automatically arrested. The shoe can then be manipulated by hand in order that the cause of diificulty may be removed and another cycle of operations of the machine may be initiated to complete the turning of the shoe under power. desired to complete the turning of the shoe manually the forepart of the shoe may be positioned over a stationary turning hook 192 which projects forwardly from the upper portion of the housing 57 at one side of the hearing which supports the upper spreader.

The operation of the machine as a whole may be briefly summarized as follows. The turrets 18 and 24 having been positioned to locate a selected heel turning member 16 and a corresponding heel cup 20 in operative positions, a shoe which has been made inside out is placed over the heel cup with the heel-seat portion of the shoe bottom resting upon the rim of the cup. The operator then depresses the treadle thereby swinging theheel cup toward the stationary heel turning member 16 and causing the latter to enter the heel cup carrying the shoe bottom with it and turning the upper over the rim of the cup until the rear portion of the shoe has been completely turned. At the completion of the turning operation upon the heel end of the shoe, the shoe is clamped between the heel turning member and the bottom of the heel cup with the forepart of the shoe extend-- ing upwardly in front of the turning iron 4:4:- The operator then bends the sole over the turning iron until the forward portion of the shoe extends substantially at right angles to the rear portion thereof in convenient position for the introduction of the forepart spreader 40. The operator then grasps the handle and moves it forwardly and downwardly until the forepart spreader is located in front of the shoe and in line with the turning iron, after which the handle 50 is moved rearwardly to insert the spreader within the forepart of the shoe, the relative positions of theparts at this stage of operations being shown in Fig. 5. The starting lever 148 is then manipulated to initiate the operation of the power-actuated mechanism for turning the forepart of the shoe. Manipulation of the lever 14:8 throws the worm 140 into mesh with the worm wheel 142, thus connecting the cam shaft 14 with the power shaft 136. As soon as the cam shaft 14 starts to turn, the segmental flange 92 functions to lock the forepart spreader in alinement with thet-urning iron and the turning iron is advanced into engagement with the toe portion of the shoe. Thereupon the sole support 42 is automatically connected with the actuating mechanism and thereafter both the sole support and the turning iron are advanced, the sole support moving at half the speed of the turning iron. The worm 1&0 is locker in driving position throughout the cycle and is automatically disengaged from the worm wheel 1&2 at the end of the cycle to stop the machine, thus relieving the operator of the necessity of holding the s I in active position throughout the cycle. If at any time during'the turning of the forepart of the shoe the shoe offers unusual resistance to theadvance of the turning iron the friction clutch members 180 and 182 will slip, thus automatically arresting the advance of the turning iron and avoiding possible injury to the shoe.

The invention having been described, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a. shoe turning machine, a forepart part spreader guided for rectilinear movement in the path of said turning member.

2. In a shoe turning machine, a forepart turning member movable in a straight path, a forepart spreader for holding the forepart of a shoe, and a telescopic mounting for the spreader constructed and arranged to guide the spreader for movement in the path of the turning member.

3. In a shoe turning machine, a movable forepart turning member, and a forcpart spreader member guided for movement in the path of the turning member during the effective movement of the latter.

e. In a shoe turning machine, a movable forepart turning member, a forepart spreader member adapted to be moved by the turning member, and means constraining the spreader member to move in the path of the turning member during the turning stroke of the latter.

5. In a shoe turning machine, a forepart turning member, means for moving the turning member in a rectilinear path, a support pivotally mounted for swinging movement in a plane intersecting the path of the turning member, and a forepart spreader slidably mounted in said support for movement in the said plane and movable into the path of movement of the turning member.

6. In a shoe turning machine, a forepart turning member, means for moving the turning member in a rectilinear path, a forepart spreader, a support for the spreader movable toward and from a position in which the spreader is located in the path of the turning member, and connections between the spreader and the support for guiding the spreader for movement relatively to the support in unison with the turning member.

a shoe turning machine, means ineluding a forepa-rt spreader member for holding the forepart of a shoe, a turning member arranged to engage the toe of the shoe, means for advancing the turning member in a direction lengthwise of the forepart, and a mounting for the spreader constructed and arranged normally to support the spreader member above the path of the turningmember, said means being movable to locate the spreader member in the path of the turning member. 7

8. In a shoe turning machine, means including a forepart spreader member for holding the forepart of a shoe, a turning member adapted to engage the toe of the shoe, means for advancing the turning member in a direction lengthwise of the forepart, and a bearing for supporting the spreader member movable from a position in which the spreader is located above the path of the turning member to a position in which the spreader is located in the path of the turning member, said bearing being constructed and arranged. to guide the spreader member for movement in the path of the turning member.

9. In a shoe turning machine, a forepart turning member, means for advancing the turning member in a rectilinear path, a support movable in a plane intersecting the path of the turning member into a position in the path of movement of the turning member, a slide bar mounted in said support for rectilinear movement in said plane, and a spreader member supported by the slide bar.

10. In a shoe turning machine, a forepartturning member movable in a rectilinear path, means including a shait arranged to make a single revolution at each cycle. of the machine for advancing and retracting the turning member, a forepart spreader member movable into the path of the turning member, a support movable between two positions in which the forepart spreader member is slidingly mounted, a member connected to move in unison with said support, and means on said shaft for engaging said member for maintaining said support in one position while the turning member is advancing.

11. In a shoe turning machine, a forepart turning member, actuating mechanism therefor, a forepart spreader movable from an inactive position to a position in the path of movement of the turning member, and yielding means tending to move the spreader out of the path of the turning member.

12. In a shoe turning machine, a forepart turning member, means for advancing and retracting said member, a forepart spreader movable from an inactive position to a position in the path of the turning member, yielding means tending to move the spreader out of said path, and means for holding the spreader in said ath during the advance of the turning mem er.

13. Ina shoe turning machine, a forepart turnin member, actuating mechanism therefor, a orepart spreader movable from an inactive position to a position in the path of movement of the turning member, means tending to move the spreader out of the path of the turning member, and means for cushioning said movement.

14. In a shoe turning machine, a spreader for holding the forepart of a shoe, a torepart turning member, means for advancing the turning member, means for supporting the spreader movable from an upper position to a lower position wherein the spreader is located in the path of the turning mem her, and yielding means tending to move the spreader upwardly.

15. In a shoe turning machine, a spreader for holding the forepart of a shoe, a forepart turning member, means -for advancing the turning member, a support for supporting the spreader movable from an upper position to a lower position wherein the spreader is located in the path of the turning member, means for urging the spreader support upwardly, means for preventing upward movement of the spreader support during the advance of the turning member and thereafter releasing the spreader support, and means for cushioning the upward movement of the spreader support.

16. In a shoe turning machine, a forepart spreader, a turning member adapted to engage with the toe of a shoe, means for advancing the turning member in a direction lengthwise of the forepart of the shoe, a normally inclined guideway pivotally mounted for movement to a position parallel to the direction of movement of the turning member, and a slide for supporting the spreader movable from a retracted position in said guideway to a forwardly extending position wherein when the guideway is parallel to the path of the turning member the spreader is located in alinement with the turning member.

17 In a shoe turning machine, means including a forepart spreader for holding the forepart of a shoe, a turning member adapted to engage with the toe of a shoe, means for advancing the turning member in a direction lengthwise of the forepart, and means for supporting the forepart spreader constructed and arranged to guide the spread for movement in unison with and in alinement with the turning member.

18. In a shoe turning machine, means including a forepart spreader for holding the forepart of a shoe, a turning member adapted to engage with the toe of a shoe, means for advancing the turning member in a straight path and in a direction lengthwise of the forepart, and means for supporting the forepart spreader constructed and arranged to guide the spreader for movement in unison with and in the path of the turning member and to permit adjustment of the spreader transversel relatively to the direction of movement 0 the turning member.

19. In a shoe turning machine, a movable turning member adapted to engage with the toe of a shoe, means including a forepart spreader for holding the forepart of a shoe, said spreader being movable in the path of the turning member, means for advancing the turning member in a direction lengthwise of the forepart, and means for supporting the forepart spreader constructed and arranged to guide the spreader for movement in unison with the turning member and to permit up-and-down adjustment of the toe of the spreader relatively to said supporting means.

20. In a shoe turning machine, a forepart turning member, means for advancing the turning member in a rectilinear path, a forepart spreader guided for movement in line with the turning member, and means for supporting the spreader constructed and arranged to permit adjustment of the spreader about an axis transverse to the direction of advance of the turning member.

21. In a shoe turning machine, a forepart turning member, means for advancing the turning member in a rectilinear path, a forepart spreader guided for movement in line with the turning member, and means for supporting the spreader constructed and arranged to permit adjustment of the spreader about an axis parallel to the direction of advance of the turning member.

22. In a shoe turning machine, a powerdriven forepart turning member, and operating mechanism comprising members normally held yieldingly in frictional driving engagement with each other and arranged to become inoperative if undue resistance is offered by the shoe to the operation of the turning member.

23. In a shoe turning machine, a powerdriven turning member, and operating means therefor, including friction clutch members, and means yieldingly holding the clutch members engaged but permitting them to slip if undue resistance is offered by the shoe to the operation of the turning member.

24. In a shoe turning machine, a powerdriven turning member, a drive shaft, and connections between said drive shaft and the turning member for imparting back and forth movements to the latter, said connections including friction clutch members yieldingly pressed together andarranged to slip if undue resistance is offered by the shoe to the operation of the turning member, and means for varying the amount of friction between the clutch members.

25. A shoe turning machine having, in combination, a forepart turning member, means for holding a shoe and co-operating With said member to turn the forepart of the shoe, mechanism including a normally idle shaft for actuating said turning member, a driving shaft, means for connecting the driving shaft with said normally idle shaft, and automatic means effective substantially at the beginning of the movement of said turning member for maintaining said connection.

26. A shoe turning machine having, in combination, a forepart turning member, means for holding a shoe and co-operating With said member to turn the forepart of the shoe, mechanism including a normally idle shaft for actuating said turning member, a driving shaft, means for connecting the driving shaft With said normally idle shaft, and automatic means effective sub-. stantially at the beginning of the movement 

